Page 72 of Landlord Wars
I felt slightly shell-shocked and uneasy. At the same time, I was thrilled he wanted to introduce me to people. That had to mean something, right? Though my excitement was dampened somewhat by his earlier mistrust.
We came from widely different worlds, and I wasn’t sure how well those worlds melded. But the sincerity in his eyes overruled my apprehension.
“At least you know how to apologize,” I said, hesitating as I considered his offer. The truth was, I wanted to go with Max and be on his arm, so why hold back? “I’d love to go with you. Just as soon as I figure out what to wear to a ball.”
ChapterTwenty-Seven
Sophia
Between Max’strying to help his parents put out the fire around their lost fortune and my preparing for ownership of Green Aesthetic, days went by when I hardly saw him. He caught me twice for lunch, bringing a bento box one day and a carne asada burrito the next. The rest of the time, either I worked late, or he was over at his parents’ place, going over the details on how to publicly address the financial debacle.
Max’s questioning me about the leaked information had bothered me, but he’d been so remorseful afterward, I’d let it slide. Max wasn’t the cold person he presented to the world. He was warm and caring, and I was trying to not read too much into it.
The Friday before the ball, I called him while I put away clean clothes in my closet. “How are your parents doing?”
“Nervous. They’re waiting until after the ball to give a formal response. They won’t admit it, but I can tell my parents are deeply ashamed and considering moving to another country.”
“Seriously?”
“No, but the idea has been tossed around halfheartedly.”
I sank onto the carpet of my small walk-in and rested a stack of hangers on my lap. “I’m sorry, Max.” His parents didn’t have the struggles other people did, but for them, this was big. “How about you? Are you okay?”
The investment hadn’t been Max’s, but from what I could tell, being a Burrows meant he shared his parents’ reputation.
“Investors for Cityscape are getting cold feet, but what’s worse is there are rumors suggesting the project’s funding is coming from the Burrows family coffers, which isn’t the case. However, because of those rumors, the county has put the project on hold until I can prove otherwise.”
“What?” I shoved the dresser drawer inside my closet closed a little too hard. “They’re preventing a project that will actually help San Francisco?”
“It would seem so,” he said.
“That’s crap! How can they do that?”
He let out a deep sigh. “The decision is somewhat unprecedented, but the news surrounding my parents isn’t giving government officials confidence in my company.”
“What can be done?”
“Only time and a lot of legwork will prove that Cityscape is well funded. And time is what we don’t have. Not if we want to remain on schedule and within budget.”
“So, Cityscape could fall apart?”
He let out a sound of frustration. “I hope not. I’m reaching out to every contact I have to get the county to reconsider. But enough about this,” he said, changing the subject. “I believe I sent you on an errand last night. Did you find something to wear to the ball?”
Max had sent me on a dress-finding mission with Jack. “Jack is a surprisingly good shopping buddy. He waited patiently while I tried on about twenty dresses. Not much commentary from his end unless he liked something. Then his eyes lit up.”
I suspected Max had done more than send me with Jack. The dressmaker Jack had taken me to was extra fancy, and there were no price tags! As soon as I touched the fabric of the first dress, I’d started to sweat. It was silk and very heavy. I’d nearly walked right out the door, certain I couldn’t afford anything. But Jack had talked me into trying on a few.
Max grumbled, “I would have rather gone with you myself. This situation with my parents can’t be over soon enough. Aside from dealing with the city’s cold feet, I’ve spent most of my days talking my parents off a cliff.”
“You’re being a supportive son,” I said. “And that’s what matters.”
“I’ll tell them you think so. So far, they’re not impressed and still believe I should do more.”
I chewed the corner of my lip and hung a work dress on the rack. I’d finally put the clothes that were too large into a donation bag. “Do your parents know? About us?”
There was a pause. Long enough to indicate what was to come. “I plan to introduce you as my girlfriend at the ball.”
So he hadn’t said anything.
